August 23, 1883. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
165 
of Tomatoes were staged, Mr. Bradford being first with Ne Plus Ultra, 
Mr. Elliott second with Dedham Favourite, and Mr. Harman third with 
Large Red, all fine even fruits. Messrs. Mortimer and Elliott secured the 
prizes offered by Messrs. Carter & Co., High Holborn, for a brace of Model 
Cucumbers, both showing even well-grown fruits. 
Miscellaneous collections of plants and flowers were not very largely 
shown, but Mr. C. Turner, Slough, exhibited a great number of handsome 
Dahlia blooms, representing all the best varieties in cultivation. Messrs. 
Sutton & Sons, Reading, also contributed a fine collection of Gladioli spikes, 
very large and richly coloured. 
THE HERBACEOUS PLANT BORDER. 
( Co?itintied from page 78.) 
Matricaria inodora fl.-pl. —The flowers of this are pure white, 
double, about 2 inches in diameter, and very freely produced from 
June until the season is well advanced. It grows about 2 feet high, 
and is especially valuable for cutting. It succeeds best in light soil, 
and is best treated as a biennial. 
Echinops persica. —A peculiar plant, having long Thistle-like 
leaves, very spiny, stout and strong in habit, attaining a height of 
4 feet or more. It bears abundance of large globular heads of 
flowers, which have a fine silvery appearance, the flowers being blue, 
but are comparatively inconspicuous. E. Ritro is equally interesting. 
They do well in light soil, and have a good appearance at the back 
of borders. Is easily increased by seed or division. 
Asclepias tuberosa. —The stout erect stems terminated with large 
yet compact umbels of bright orange-pink flowers are very showy. 
It grows freely in any good soil, and attains a height of 3 to 4 feet. 
Its first flowers are only just now (August 3rd) open, and continues 
a long time, being really a fine back-row plant for late summer 
flowering. Increased by division. 
Thalictrum adiantifolium. —The Maidenhair Fern of the herba¬ 
ceous border, having delicate Adiantum-like foliage, very beautiful, 
and is particularly valuable to afford sprays for cutting to set up 
with flowers or even for bouquets. It grows best in a light soil, but 
may be grown in an ordinary border where water is not stagnant. 
It attains to a height of a foot or a little over. The flowers are 
very small and greenish-yellow, although in combination with the 
sprays they tell wonderfully. 
Dielytra eximea. —Though a spring-blooming plant this has now 
(August 3rd) several racemes of its graceful drooping reddish-purple 
flowers, which, with its ample spread of pale green Fern-like foliage, 
is a conspicuous object. Both the foliage and flowers are useful for 
cutting. Good open moist soil in well-drained borders suits it 
perfectly. It attains a height of 18 inches. 
Coreopsis tenuifolia. — A very pretty slender-growing plant 
about 2 feet high, the leaves being much divided and borne in 
whorls. The flowers are very freely produced, being over an inch 
m diameter and of a very rich golden yellow. It does well in light 
soil. 
Ilelenium pumilum. —This plant attains a height of a couple of 
feet, has large flowers (2 inches or more across), bright yellow, and 
very freely produced, and are very useful for cutting. It will grow 
in almost any soil. 
Ilarpalium rigidum. —Usually 3 to 4 feet in height, and produces 
an abundance of golden-yellow flowers with black disc, and are very 
large. As a back-row plant it is one of the most attractive from 
August onward. 
Helianthus multiflorus major. —A very vigorous-growing peren¬ 
nial Sunflower, attaining a height of 4 to 6 feet. The flowers are 
very large, deep yellow, having two rows of florets around the disc, 
which give it a very telling appearance, and it flowers from July 
to autumn. This, in my opinion, is the finest of the perennial Sun¬ 
flowers, very useful for cutting, and attractive as a specimen in a 
back row. Good light soil suits it. 
Gaillardia grandiflora. —Three feet or more in height, producing 
a great number of brilliant flowers—crimson, yellow, and orange, 
with some black or very dark brown—3 inches across, and come in 
in June or July and continue up to frost. It is one of the finest 
border plants, but is not very hardy. Plants are readily raised from 
seed, treating it as a biennial ; or it may be raised from cuttings 
inserted in sandy soil under a handlight in July or August, wintering 
in a cold frame after potting oft', plunging the pots in ashes. 
Achillea sei'rata fl.-pl. —This grows i8 to 24 inches high, bearing 
very fine heads of pure white double flowers, very beautiful, and the 
leaves are very deeply cut, thereby rendering it very effective. It 
likes a light soil, but will grow in any well-drained soil. It con¬ 
tinues a long time in flower, commencing in July, and the flowers 
are valuable for cutting. 
Cyclamen europceum. —On the margin of the herbaceous border 
this is very pleasing, its bright deep rose-coloured flowers having a 
chaste appearance. It does best in partial shade in light soil, and 
the corm covered a few inches deep with light or vegetable soil, such 
as decayed leaves. 
Acorus japonicus fol. variegcitis. —Although a bog plant this does 
well in moist borders, but not in shade, and is one of the most 
beautiful of variegated plants, the leaves being striped with bright 
red, yellow, and white, having a very telling effect ; its Iris-like 
foliage being very fine indeed. It is readily increased by division. 
Bambusa Ealconeri. —Leaves bright green and the habit graceful,, 
and is here introduced to notice as very distinct amongst border 
plants. It likes a moist soil, but well drained, and a sheltered 
situation. 
PLANTS FOR WALLS. 
As we have a wall over 100 yards long at the back of a part of 
the herbaceous border, and having a south aspect, I should like to 
give a few notes occasionally about some of the plants trained to it, 
and shall begin with 
Ceanothus Gloire dc Versailles, which produces long corymbs of 
deep lavender-blue flowers, and commences to bloom in June or so 
soon as any growth is made, and continues until stopped by frost. 
A few cuttings may be struck in late summer for wintering in 
pots in a cool house, so as to make sure of its continuance, as it 
is not very hardy, needing protection in severe weather. It is fine 
as a pot plant, grows freely, and flowers most profusely. 
Jasminum officinalis major. —Larger flowers of more substance 
distinguish this plant from the old Jasmine, and it grows even 
more freely and blooms splendidly. Its flowers are quite as sweet 
and more lasting.—G. Abbey. 
SHROPSHIRE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
August 15th and IGth. 
The annual Exhibition of the above Society was held in the Quarry 
Grounds, Shrewsbury. These grounds have been materially improved and 
beautified during the past few years by a judicious expenditure of the 
surplus funds of the Society. There is no difficulty for any stranger 
visiting the quaint old town to find the Exhibition, as the main street 
leading from the station to the grounds is always densely draped with 
festoons and banners, which indicates the interest taken by the inhabitants 
in the Exhibition ; in fact, the occasion is regarded as a partial or general 
holiday, and thousands find their way to the grounds, especially on the 
second day. We know of no other society—Manchester excepted—that is 
in such a flourishing financial condition. 
The Exhibition on the whole was a great success, and was decidedly 
superior to any previous gathering. Yegetables and cut flowers have in 
past years been equally fine, but never more numerous, while plant-growing- 
has extended most rapidly, and the quality and quantity of the specimens 
staged were very much in advance of what they were two years ago. 
STOVE AND GREENHOUSE PLANTS. 
In the open class for twenty plants, ten flowering and ten foliage, there 
were three competitors. Mr. J. Cypher of Cheltenham was well to the 
front, followed by Mr. C. Roberts, gardener to E. C. Glover, Esq., Highfield 
Hall, and Mr. E. Tudgey. The first collection contained the usual grand 
examples. Mr. Roberts staged a splendid Cycas revoluta, Ixora Williamsii, 
Croton angustifolius, Gleichenia rupestris,and Croton Johannis. Mr. Tudgey’s 
plants were rather irregular. In the corresponding class for nine plants, open 
only to the counties of Shropshire and Montgomeryshire, five to be in bloom, 
there were four exhibitors. The premier position was accorded Mr. Farrand, 
gardener to Mrs. Juson, who staged fair plants of Ixora Williamsii, Ixora. 
coccinea superba, and Dipladenia hybrida. Messrs. Pritchard & Sons second, 
having good specimens of Allamanda Hendersonii and Ixora superba. Mr. 
R. L. Burton secured the remaining prize for neat well-grown examples. In 
the amateurs’ class for six plants, not less than four in bloom, H. Owen, Esq., 
was well ahead, and staged splendid well-bloomed, moderate-sized specimens 
of Stephanotis floribunda and Begonia metallica. Mrs. Wace was placed 
second, and Mr. L. Burd, third, both having creditable plants, four collections 
being staged. 
Palms. —These were not numerous, three collections only being staged, 
but the majority of the plants were large and healthy, occupying con¬ 
siderable space down the centre of the tent. Mr. J. Cypher took the lead 
with very large plants ; Mr. E. Tudgey was second with rather smaller and 
a less even collection ; Mr. C. Roberts was the remaining prizetaker. 
Draccsnas. —Although the plants in this class were more numerous than 
last year, there was a slight falling-off in quality. Messrs. Pritchard and 
Sons won the premier position with six plants, the collection including good 
specimens of amabilis, Mooreana, Baptistii, and Robertsoniana. The same 
exhibitor was also second with smaller and less even plants ; Mr. C. Roberts, 
third with rather poor examples. 
Caladiums. —There was a marked improvement in this class, the plants 
being in every respect more numerous and better grown than on previous 
occasions. For six plants Messrs. Pritchard & Sons took the lead with good 
specimens, followed closely by Mr. Farrand ; Mrs. Shuker was placed third, 
her plants being smaller, but very compact and neat. 
Groups. —Four groups were staged in the class for miscellaneous plants 
arranged for effect, to occupy 100 square feet. Messrs. Pritchard & Sons 
staged three of these groups, and were awarded the first and second awards. 
There was no competition, and the groups were less bright and striking than 
we have before seen them. Three exhibitors staged plants in the class for 
fifty miscellaneous plants in 5-inch pots. These were arranged on tables 
about 3 feet wide, and were very effective. Messrs. Pritchard & Sons were 
successful in obtaining the first and second prizes. These two collections 
contained some neat well-grown small decorative plants, both flowering and 
foliage. The first-prize lot contained plants in flower of Odontoglossum 
Alexandrse, which gave it a rather choice appearance compared with the 
other collections. Mr. Farrand was the remaining prizewinner. In the 
amateurs’ class for twenty-five plants, not less than fifteen in bloom, four 
